Tips For Organizing Your Fridge Larder
A fridge larder is an excellent way to store produce that's beyond its best. You can also make use of smaller refrigerators and reduce your energy costs!
It's the perfect place to store items like breads, cheeses, and eggs. Fresh herbs also benefit from low moisture.
Keep It In Order
A refrigerator larder can reduce food waste, and make it easier to find items when cooking. The refrigerator, like any other room in your home, can become overcrowded and out of control. Here are a few tips to keep your fridge tidy and functioning smoothly.
Take Inventory
The most crucial aspect of organizing your fridge is taking inventory, according to Holly Blakey, a professional organizer at Breathing Room. "Take everything out, check expiration dates and clean the surfaces." Throw out expired foods or throw them away and get rid of any foods that aren't going to be consumed before they go bad.
When you replenish your fridge, ensure that the items that are most frequently used are in the front and the center, Blakey advises. Then, place those items that aren't frequently used in the bottom and back of your refrigerator.
Organize Your Freezer
If you have a chest-freezer it is possible to organize it with clear storage bins which will allow you to locate food items more easily. Label each bin clearly and categorize items that are similar. For example, store a bin for condiments, another for sodas and a third for cheese sticks. You can also make use of a lazy Susan to store condiments and other items that are frequently used. This will stop them from being lost in the back of your.
Store food items that require coldest temperatures at the back of a side by side fridge and foods that require warmer temperatures towards the front of. The lower shelf is ideal for milk, cream and butter (it doesn't melt) yogurt and other items that don't require constant temperatures. The crisper drawers work best for spilled produce.
Drawer dividers are a cheap and easy way to make your refrigerator more efficient. They'll keep your vegetables and fruits from rolling around, preventing them from rotting before you are able to use them. They'll also keep your drawers clean and organized. Another tip for your fridge is storing tender herbs in water to extend their life. Mason jars filled with one inch of liquid work great. You can also purchase an herb preserver to keep in your refrigerator.
Keep It In View
A well-organized fridge will make it easier to find healthy foods that keep you satisfied and content throughout the day. Make sure that all your food containers and lids are clear so you can see what's inside. This will inform you of the number of days are left until the expiration dates, and prevent you from keeping food that is past its expiration date.
Start your fridge larder off with a deep clean by cleaning the drawers, shelves and racks with warm water and dish soap. Give your fridge a thorough scrub to get rid of any crumbs and gross spills that might have accumulated.
After everything is clean and dry now is the time to replenish your refrigerator. Start by storing your deli meats and cheeses in the drawer. Then, move on to the produce drawer. fridge sale is where you should put away the leafy greens as they can are prone to wilting. Make sure it is at least three-quarters full to ensure maximum freshness.
The pantry drawer in some refrigerators can be helpful for storage of party trays, large bags of frozen vegetables and other bulky food items. This area can be used to store condiments, such as mustard and ketchup as well as nut-butters, and other canned goods. Milk shouldn't be stored in this area as the temperature may fluctuate and cause it to spoil quickly.
Finally, the rear of your fridge should be reserved for jarred foods, salad dressings and other condiments that will last longer. Use a riser for jars to make them easier to read. This will help you avoid opening and closing the lids several times.
Label each bin using a marker, or stickers that can be easily read. This will let your family members to easily recognize the contents of each bin, and it'll make it easier to locate what you're searching for. The addition of bins with labels is also a great way to declutter your fridge and reduce the amount of plastic waste you generate.
Keep Cool
A well-designed fridge larder will keep food at the correct temperature to prevent spoilage and slowing bacterial growth. Larders are installed into cabinets that are already in place or stand on their own. They are typically placed on the north-facing side of your home to limit sun exposure, and may have extra insulation or ventilation systems to stop heat from getting into the food storage area. They are also usually built with thicker walls and less windows to keep the inside at less temperature than other areas of the home.
The larder should have an area for each kind of food, such as meat and vegetables. Each drawer can be programmed to the right temperature. This ensures that burgers and chicken will be cooked well, but that the salad greens won't be excessively damaged. Larder drawers can also be set to a low humidity setting for vegetables and fruits which release lots of moisture, such as cucumbers or tomatoes.
To preserve cheese, you can keep it in different drawers in the fridge. Wrapped in greaseproof paper, Clingfilm or greaseproof film to keep it fresher for longer. Other items that can be kept in the refrigerator's door include beverages as well as non-perishable condiments (like ketchup), water and eggs. Milk should not be kept in the doors of the fridge, however - these shelves are warmer and more unstable than drawers in other drawers.
For a sleek look, corralling small bottles of food and snacks can make the contents more visible, which is also beneficial when family members are searching for food on the go. Labeling bins and shelving to identify what should be eaten first may be helpful, especially in the case of family members who aren't used to reading labels!
A larder can also be a great place to store leftovers and a selection of food-safe glass and plastic containers for storage, which are perfect for storing smaller portions of ingredients. These containers are great for saving time and money when shopping. If you have a tidy, organized fridge with the space designated for these items, it will make it easier to keep track of your grocery budget.
Keep It Fresh
The best tips for organizing your fridge reduce food waste by helping your good-for-you groceries last longer. A few smart strategies will keep your fresh food items at the right temperature and make it easy to see what's in your fridge.
Crisper drawers are included in many refrigerators. They alter airflow and increase humidity, thus extending the shelf life of vegetables and fruits. But it's important to use them properly. Mixing fruit and greens could cause the former, like the greens, to wilt or become spoiled due to the ethylene created. Separating different types of fruits and storing them in appropriate drawers is crucial.
Door shelves are often the warmest part of the fridge and should be reserved for foods that don't require a colder temperature or storage conditions that are special, such as jam jars, chutneys salad dressings, long-life juices (anything purchased in bulk and with the same expiration date). The top shelf is perfect for beverages that can be stored upright without spilling, like milk and water.
It isn't easy keeping refrigerator drawers tidy, with things that are moving and jumbling. However, there are simple ways to assist. Invest in a set refrigerator drawer dividers. This will help keep your food items separated and prevent them from getting squished together. It is also beneficial. Keep produce that is similar in height on the same shelf, and don't place items that aren't the same size in close proximity Raw meat shouldn't be kept in the same drawer with cooked Ham!
A thermometer is an additional essential item to have in your fridge. It's a cheap, easy-to-use device that will ensure that the fridge is at the optimal temperature so your food stays fresh and safe.
Don't forget to keep a supply of plastic grocery bags in your fridge for storing produce that doesn't have its own container. The moisture that is held inside the bag helps keep vegetables from rotting too fast. For herbs that normally wilt within days, a simple trick to keeping them fresher longer is to wash and put them in a glass of water, which is equally effective in retaining moisture as plastic bags.